The Village Hidden in the Sand wanted to alter the terrain, reduce the slope, and fill in the ravines to pave the way for the main force to follow.
After all, not everyone has the immense power of Madara Uchiha, capable of shattering mountains with a single strike. In conventional warfare, every inch of terrain advantage must be paid for with lives.
Immediately afterward, a series of loud explosions came from behind the Village Hidden in the Sand formation.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A dozen or so plumes of white smoke exploded almost simultaneously, and all sorts of enormous creatures rushed out of the smoke: giant sand scorpions wielding venomous pincers, giant lizards covered in thick armor... These specially bred large Summon Animals roared and charged forward, each step causing the ground to tremble.
They were the vanguard shields, responsible for drawing the initial fire of the Konoha.
Following closely behind were countless puppets.
Hundreds of puppets of various shapes surged forth like a tide. Some ran on all fours like wild beasts, while others soared through the air, casting shadows on the ground.
The puppeteers followed closely behind, their fingers flying as they controlled these killing machines to rush towards the Kikyo Pass. Beside the puppeteers were Sunagakure ninjas holding swords and forming hand seals. They blended into the puppet formation, covering and supporting each other.
The Village Hidden in the Sand's offensive, like a black wave, swept towards the Kikyo Pass.
"Prepare!"
Jiraiya's voice also rang out loudly within the leaf village formation.
The ninjas at the front simultaneously formed hand seals and slammed their hands on the ground.
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
Thick earthen walls rose from the foot of the mountain, layer upon layer, crisscrossing to form a network, firmly resisting the surging terrain transformation brought by the Village Hidden in the Sand.
Soil and rocks collided violently in front of the mountain, producing a muffled, thunderous roar.
Immediately afterward, Jiraiya bit his finger, and blood streamed down his palm as he formed hand seals: "Summoning Technique!"
Bang!
A cloud of white smoke, larger than any summoning animal from the Village Hidden in the Sand, exploded, and from within the smoke, a gigantic toad suddenly appeared and landed in front of the Konoha's formation.
It had a pipe in its mouth, a short knife at its waist, and its eyes glared at the approaching enemy.
"Jiraiya, it's another big scene like this again."
Gamabunta exhaled a puff of smoke, his tone languid as he glanced around.
Jiraiya leaped and landed on Gamabunta's head. He took a deep breath, and his chakra surged wildly within him.
"Gamabunta, use oil!"
"Clear!"
Gamabunta opened his enormous mouth, his abdomen suddenly swelled up, and then!
Whoosh!!!
Viscous toad oil poured out like a waterfall from his mouth. At that instant, a blazing flame burst from Jiraiya's mouth, instantly igniting the oil that filled the sky!
"Fire Style: Toad Flame Bomb!"
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
Behind Jiraiya, dozens of Konoha's Wind Style user ninjas who had been waiting in the wings simultaneously unleashed their attacks, sending gusts of wind howling out and precisely plunging them into the sea of fire!
The wind fueled the fire, and the fire borrowed the might of the wind!
The already towering flames, carried by the gale, instantly swelled several times in size, transforming into a colossal wave of fire that blotted out the sky and crashed down on the advancing Village Hidden in the Sand's front-line formation with overwhelming force!
The summoned beasts at the forefront were engulfed by flames, screaming as they rolled and fell in the sea of fire. The puppet troops following closely behind rushed into the fire, and the puppets quickly burned in the flames, turning into moving fireballs.
As the massive wave of flames was about to strike the Village Hidden in the Sand's assault ninjas and puppeteers behind the summoned animals and puppets in front acted as human shields, drawing fire and giving Sunagakure ninjas in the back a time to react.
"Water Style: Water Wall!"
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
Dozens of Sunagakure ninja hastily formed hand seals, and walls of water and earth rose from the ground in an attempt to block the oncoming sea of fire. However, the flames were too intense; the water walls evaporated, and the earth walls burned and cracked.
It looked like the incoming attack was about to become unstoppable.
But at that moment, a golden light surged from the Village Hidden in the Sand's formation, and a huge golden wall suddenly appeared, blocking the sea of fire!
Magnetic Style: Air Gold Dust Protective Wall!
The moment the sea of fire crashed into the Air Gold Dust Protective Wall, it unleashed a deafening roar. Flames frantically licked the golden surface, but the Air Gold Dust Protective Wall rose and flowed at an astonishing speed, firmly blocking the sea of fire in front of them.
A moment later, the flames finally went out, and the Air Gold Dust Protective Wall slowly dissipated.
On Kikyo Pass, Jiraiya narrowed his eyes while looking at Rasa's calm face in the Village Hidden in the Sand's camp.
Rasa!
This newly appointed fourth Kazekage is indeed quite capable.
At the same time…
"Summoning Technique!"
Tsunade pressed one palm to the ground, and chakra surged into her.
Bang!
A cloud of white smoke exploded, and a gigantic slug appeared in the Konoha formation. Its body was soft and enormous, completely different from a fierce combat-type summoning animal like Gamabunta.
"Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade didn't say much; she just nodded. The Slug's huge body trembled slightly, and then it split apart.
Countless small slugs separated from it, surging forward like a tide. They crawled over rocks, crossed earthen walls, and at astonishing speed climbed onto every Konoha ninja standing at the front.
One of the ninjas glanced down at the slippery little thing on his shoulder and couldn't help but grin.
"With Katsuyu-sama here, I feel much more at ease."
The little slug didn't respond; it simply lay quietly on his shoulder, its antennae swaying slightly.
Tsunade stood still, arms crossed, her gaze sweeping across the battlefield and landing on the small, thin figure opposite her.
Chiyo was looking at her too.
The two women's eyes met across the flames and smoke.
The next moment...
"Kill!"
"Charge!"
The roars from both the Village Hidden in the Sand and Konoha erupted almost simultaneously.
In front of Kikyo Pass, the black wave finally collided violently with Konoha's defensive line!
Whoosh!
Boom!
Shuriken, kunai, and explosive tags rained down on the enemy, and casualties had already occurred even before the ninjas on both sides had officially gotten close.
Meanwhile, deep within the Village Hidden in the Sand camp, an elite force remained motionless.
Pakura stood at the very front of the group, her orange eyes scanning the battlefield again and again, repeatedly taking in the figures of people in Konoha.
She had an even more important mission, personally entrusted to her by Kazekage Rasa and Elder Chiyo: To kill Shinichi Higashino!
Beside her, three young men with purple hair were fully activating their Red Eyes, their unique red eyes flashing with an eerie light as they rapidly scanned the Konoha's battle lines.
The Red Eyes' ability to see and see through objects is operating at full capacity.